Baking Bread!

Yesterday was the start of a new module at school! I've have thus completed my first module, quick breads, and am one more module closer to getting a bakery! Yeast Breads is so much fun, from the smell of the fermentation of the dough, to the "up to your elbows" in sticky bread dough, to inviting smell of warm sweet bread, right from the oven! Here are a few of the breads Ive made thus far.



Challah in the bread oven





The finished Challah



Vienna Bread in the proof box...



The Completed Vienna Bread...





A Potato Bread...




CHALLAH BREAD RECIPE
2 cups warm water or milk

2 pkgs dry active yeast

6-7 cups bread flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 t. salt

1/4 cup oil

1 egg

1. In large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in sugar and salt. Add 3 cups flour and mix well. Add oil and egg and mix well. Then add remaining flour. Put in greased bowl and cover. Let rise. When dough is doubled in size braid as follows:

Divide the dough into 3 pieces. Cut 1 piece into thirds; with your hands roll each piece into a 16 inch-long rope or snake. Place ropes side by side and braid as you would hair.

Pinch ends of braid to seal. Place on cookie sheet the bottom loaf. Repeat with another piece for another loaf. Cut remaining dough into 6 pieces; roll each into 17 inch-long ropes. Braid each set of three ropes as shown in figure; pinch ends to seal.

Place each smaller braid on top of a large braid; tuck ends of top braid under bottom braid stretching top braid if necessary.

Arrange loaves at least 5 inches apart on oiled or greased cookie sheet; cover and let rise in warm place until doubles in size. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook bread for about 35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and brush top and sides of loaves with butter. Let cool on wire rack.

Baking Classes.........

The summer has began and today was my first baking class. I really enjoyed it. Not only did the girls have a blast, but I also enjoyed my time with them immensely. When you're teaching eight year old girls to bake you have to go very slow and explain every step. I had a great time and I think we accomplished a lot! First, each girl made their own miny loaf of deliciously delectable banana bread. Then, as their bread was baking, we mixed up some scrumdillyumpeous peanut butter cookies for them to munch on. Altogether It went very well. Here is our recipe for banana bread!

Marie’s Baking Class
Banana Bread

Ingredients
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup mashed bananas
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Spray one 9x5 inch loaf pan with non-stick spray coating.
2. Blend together the eggs, buttermilk, oil and bananas.
3. Sift together the sugar, flour, baking soda and salt. Add to banana mixture and stir in pecans. Mix well.
4. Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.